Table Tennis: Ryedale ‘A’ close gap (From Gazette & Herald)

Table Tennis: Ryedale ‘A’ close gap

3:17pm Wednesday 23rd January 2013 in Sport

SNOWY weather took its toll on the Ryedale League fixtures last week with only six games possible in all three divisions.

The top three in division one were not in action owing to postponements, and Ryedale ‘A’ took advantage by moving to within three points of third-placed Coneysthorpe ‘A’ after a 9-1 defeat of Amotherby ‘B’.

Only Gareth Bryning achieved a singles win for Amotherby.

In division two, Amotherby ‘C’ had a good 7-3 win over leaders Malton, while Ryedale ‘F’ defeated Hutton-le-Hole ‘B’ 8-2, with Andy Paton unbeaten and Barry Rudd and Gerald Cosens each winning two.

Veteran Cosens had to go to five sets to beat Andrew Chappell and then Mary Chappell, but his 65 years’ experience told in the end.

The best performance of the night, though, came from Doug Annan in his five-game winning set against Rudd in which he turned round a seemingly hopeless position with a series of spectacular winners. Mary Chappell played some fine stuff for Hutton without the reward of a set.

Amotherby ‘D’ made it 10 out of 10 in division three, with an 8-2 defeat of FERA. Some matches were quite close with Patrick Hough shining for FERA, just missing out on a win against Ken Darby after leading the fifth set 10-8, and taking Russ Scott, who had a 100 per cent win record, to four sets.

Amotherby ‘D’ now have a 15-point lead over nearest rivals Helmsley ‘B’.

The Drifters achieved a creditable draw with third-placed Amotherby ‘C’, Anthony Craven winning all three singles for The Drifters ensuring they remained off the bottom.